Cigar and cigarette lighter.



M. WENZEL,

ClGAR AND ClGARETTE L|GHTER.

APPLICATION FILEELIAN. 3, 19m.

1 251312. Patented Dec. 25,1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MARTHA WENZEL, 0F JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA.

CIGAR AND CIGARETTE LIGHTER.

Application filed January 3, 1917.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, MARTHA VVnNzEL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jacksonville, in the county of Duval, State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cigar and Cigarette Lighters; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention is an improvement in electric igniting devices and has particular reference to a cigar and cigarette lighter.

An object of the invention is to provide a lighter wherein the current employed to produce an electric spark will only be used at the time of making thespark whereby the current consumption will be reduced to a minimum and the life of the batteries prolonged.

Another object is the provision of a device of this character which is simple in construction, easy to manufacture, and effective in carrying out the purpose for which it is designed.

The inventive idea involved is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, one of which, for the purpose of illustrating the invention, is shown in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device constructed in accordance with the invention. i

Fig. 2 is an end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2.

Referring more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters indicate similar parts, the numeral 5 indicates a casing in which are mounted the usual batteries, not shown, and on which is rotatably mounted in the brackets 6 a cylindrical reservoir 7 having the wick tube 8 extending therefrom and provided with an electric contact 9 atthe upper end thereof suitably connected to the electric battery. The reservoir 7 is provided with the usual handle or finger piece 10 for the purpose of oscillating the wick tube whereby the wick therein is lighted in a manner which will appear in the course of the description.

The casing 5 has mounted thereon a hollow standard 11 the upper end of which is Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 25, 191 '7.

Serial No. 140,413.

provided with a horizontal member 12. The lower extremity of this horizontal member has secured thereto in any preferred manner a hood member generally indicated by the numeral 13 and consisting of a pair of depending and oppositely disposed plates 14' for receiving therebetween the upper end of the wick tube 8, said plates assisting in extinguishing the flame after the wick ha been lighted and returned to normal position. member has mounted therein the shank 16 of a bifurcated orforked element 17, said latter element being separated from the upper por t1on 15 by means of the insulation 18. The shank 16 forms a contact member which is adapted to be engaged by the reduced end 19 of a pivoted contact member 20 mounted upon a bolt 21 extending between the ends of the bifurcated member 17. This pivoted contact member is insulated from the member 17 by the bushings 22 engaged; in the openings in the member 17 and surrounding the bolt 21. Other insulating washers 23 are mounted on the bolt 21 and engage the outer faces of the member 17. The pivoted contact member or plate 20 has secured thereto the ends of several strands of twisted steel wire 24 which combine to form a flexible element normally projecting into the space The upper portion 15 of the hood between the plates 14 of the hood member I 13. The ends of these wires which are secured in the member 20 are preferably wound with asbestos thread 25 to prevent the heat move outwardly from between the plate 14 and the contact 2) on said tube will then engage the free ends of the wires 24. This engagement will also cause said wires to move outwardly and adjust the pivoted contact member 20 about its pivot until the reduced end 19 thereof engages the adjacent end of the shank 16. The circuit is closed by this latter engagement, and the spring contact formed by the wires 24 is so positioned relative to the contact 9, carried by the wick tube, that when these terminals are separated by the continued outward movement of the wick tube, a spark will occur the instant of separation and said spark will lightthe wick in said tube, it being understood of course that said wick is saturated with a suitable fluid from the reservoir 7. It will thus be seen that the current is only used during the time intervening between the contact of the end 19 with the shank l3 and the instant of separation between the spring contact 24 and the contact 9. When the wick tube 8 is being returned to its normal position the same will engage the spring contact or wires :25 and thus rock the pivoted contact 20 until the end is disengaged from the shank 13 and owing to the flexibility of the spring contact 2e the tube 8 is permitted to re turn to its normal position when the device will be ready for another operation.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination with a casing having a source of current therein, of a wick tube mounted to oscillate above said casing and having a contact, a hood device also supported above said casing and including oppositely disposed plates for receiving the upper end of said wick tube therebetween when the latter is in normal position, a bifurcated member carried by said hood device and connected new to said source of current another pivotedbetween the arms 5d bi member and insulated the! spring contact carried by per 9 0. of said Wick tube whervb said pivoted contact to engage said oifun sated member and said spring c ntect to engage the contact on said wick tube. 2. In a device of the class describe combination oi a casing having e cures 0 current therein, of an adjustable carried by said casing and having a con not, a hood device also supported by sai casing, a bifurcated member carried by said hood device and cdnnected to said source of current, another contact pivoted hetw arms of said bifurcated member and J.- iated therefrom, and a ring; COYitQQL carried by said pivoted cents t and adopted to be engaged by the upper end of said Wick tube whereby to cause-said pivot Contact to engage said bifurcated member and said spring Contact to engage tie Contact on said Wick tube.

In testimony whereof I at; X signature, in the presence of two witness MARTHA We Witnesses:

CHARLES G. GERVAIS, L. A. RAULERSOE. 

